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Mareta Gay Thurman

Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 3:43 PM

By Greg Pyron

Mareta Gay Thurman, 73 of Springfield, MO

Mareta Gay Thurman was born November 15, 1947 in Springfield, MO.  She grew up in Springfield and attended Pipkin Junior High and both Hillcrest and Parkview High Schools.  She married James A. Thurman in September of 1967 in California. 

Mareta worked at Springfield Airport as a security guard in the 1970s before taking time to raise her children.

Mareta had many interests including doing genealogy research and keeping her family up-to-date on family history.  Her love of history and her family also translated into her being a great storyteller.  She was an animal lover and enjoyed caring for cats and dogs.  Mareta also loved Mickey Mouse because she shared her nickname “Mickey” with the character.  Mareta enjoyed having fun and found great entertainment in watching wrestling.  More than anything, Mareta loved time with her family and especially her grandkids.  She was an amazing mom, sister and grandma who will be deeply missed.

Mareta entered into rest on Thursday, August 5, 2021 in Springfield, MO at the age of 73.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lorene Turner and Guy Hollis; husband James Thurman; and grandson Stitch.

Mareta is survived by her children, James Thurman II of Ozark, MO; Brooks and Josh Meriano of Ozark and Christle and Nathan Godley of Rockaway Beach, MO; brothers, Kenneth Johnson of Forsyth and Guy Hollis, Jr. of California; sisters, Dauwn Marie Murphy of Oregon and Michele Hollis of Oregon; eight grandchildren, Nathan Godley, Christa Godley, James A. Thurman, III, Mark A. Thurman, Aja Ferrell, Piggysmalls, Freyja, and Hope.

Graveside services for Mareta will be Monday, August 16, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. in Eastlawn Cemetery, Springfield under the direction of Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home and Crematory, Branson.

Donations are requested to the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org or Alzheimer’s Association, www.act.alz.org.

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